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Teens with Social Anxiety Engage in Earlier Alcohol, Marijuana Use

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:50:31 -0400

Teens with Social Anxiety Engage in Earlier Alcohol, Marijuana Use:

According to a study conducted at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, among teens with substance use disorders, those who also have social anxiety disorder begin using marijuana at a mean age of 10.6 years — an average of 2.2 years earlier than teens without anxiety.

“This finding surprised us,” said principal investigator Alexandra Wang, a third-year medical student at the university. “It shows we need to start earlier with prevention of drug and alcohol use and treatment of social phobia [in children].”

The study was consisting of 195 teens ages 14 to 18 which 102 of them or 52 percent \ were teenage girls. They met the current diagnosis of substance use disorder and had received medical detoxification if needed.

The researchers evaluated the participants’ history of drug and alcohol use and digged into whether they’d had any of three anxiety disorders: social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.

Out of 195 teens, 92 percent had marijuana dependence and the most disturbing part was it is starting at the age of 13 years. And on the other hand, 61 percent were alcohol-dependent, having started drinking at 13.5 years on average. This shows that marijuana was the most popular drug of choice.

Teens with either social anxiety disorder or panic disorder were far more likely to have marijuana dependence, Wang said. Before marijuana dependence both of these disorders were more likely to occur.

More or less 80 percent of teens suffering from social anxiety disorder and 85 percent with panic disorder had symptoms of that disorder previous to the onset of their substance abuse. In addition, panic disorder has a propensity to start before alcohol dependence and came about in 75 percent of alcohol-dependent adolescents.

According to the authors, there was no clear evidence showing whether agoraphobia came before or after either marijuana use or the first drink.

A limitation of the study, according to the research team, was that 128 (66 percent) of the teens were juvenile offenders who had received court-referred treatment for their substance abuse. These findings might not generalize to a less severely addicted population.

Yet again, interventions to lessen social anxiety might help avoid substance abuse in teens.

“We need to treat these young patients initially with non-pharmacologic means, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness meditation,” said Christina Delos Reyes, M.D., a psychiatrist specializing in addictions at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

Patrick Bordeaux, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Quebec, Canada, said that “comorbidities tend to be the rule in adolescents, not the exception.”

“Adolescents are more likely to have social and mental disorders that make them more likely to use drugs,” said Bordeaux, who was not involved with the study.

Anger Management: How To Deal With Anger

Fri, 10 May 2013 03:27:22 -0400

Anger Management: How To Deal With Anger:

Everyone gets angry once in a while if we are mistreated or feel we have been “wronged” and it is a normal and healthy emotion, you have to handle it appropriately. What we need to emphasized on is what we do with this anger. It is time to seek help when you feel like your anger is not doing any good with your day to day life such as work, relationship, ability to achieve your goal and many more. Anger management’s goal is to learn methods and new ways to control your anger. Many people who suffer from this condition come to seek help to deal with their problem but most of the time, fear, resentment, and unmet expectations that are the root causes for their anger. Trough counseling the problem is addressed and the anger soon dissipates. After, the client is able to be aware that they do not have to be controlled by their anger. One more thing is that they are not being the “victim” of others or society but rather they are responsible for their own actions and behaviors.

Some people just wouldn’t want to show their real self so they stick with the reputation of an angry person or sometimes it is their way to resent from other people from getting too close to them. This may result to people afraid of you or if not disrespectful of you. Communicating your needs and frustrations in an productive and respectful way people will tend to listen more just to learn about your needs and frustrations.

As stated earlier, anger is a normal emotion. The objective is to deal with the underlying issues and feelings indentified with anger. And the next goal is to learn healthy ways to deal with this emotion. Some may think that letting the anger out is healthy until they realize that the have secluded themselves from the people around them like relationships to partners, children, co-workers and etc. Added the fact that this can have a very negative impact on the way others see and treat you.

For some instances, this type of behavior might be modeled from past experiences from family members seen while growing up. You can do something to cut the cycle before your children might end up having the same problem and before you isolate yourself from others.

Is it uneasy for you to compromise and acknowledge you’re wrong at times?

Accepting that you are wrong and compromising can be hard at first but consider that you cannot for all time get your way by being the loudest and most demanding. It does nothing but pushes people away.

Are you afraid to let your guard down and allow people to truly see you for who you are?

Other people are saying that if you wanted to achieve anything you must be aggressive, tough and in control. Anger can have a repealing effect and sends you spiraling out of control.

Do you believe that no matter what, you always have to be right and opinions and viewpoints of others are a direct threat or challenge to you? Oftentimes we get mad because we observe behavior in someone else that we see in ourselves. This brings up sentiments that we do not desire to appear at or deal with. Underneath the anger may be hurt, disappointment, trauma and resentments. It’s vital to become aware of how your body is reacting to feelings of anger.

If you sense your self get tense, “see red”, find yourself clenching your fist and jaw, have trouble concentrating, find your breathing to be rapid and fast then maybe it is really time for you to seek help. There are numerous other physical ciphers but these are a little you may notice.

Anxiety and Stress Benefits From Forced Exercise

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:41:33 -0400

Anxiety and Stress Benefits From Forced Exercise:

http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/05/02/anxiety-and-stress-benefits-from-forced-exercise/

According to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, being forced to exercise may still help reduce anxiety and depression just as exercising voluntarily does.

People who exercises are more secluded against stress-related disorders even past studies have shown this. And scientists know that the perception of control can benefit a person’s mental health. But an open question has been the topic of some debates whether an individual, who undergoes the feeling of a forced to exercise, getting rid of the discernment of control, would still gather the anxiety-fighting advantages of the exercise.

Benjamin Greenwood, an assistant research professor in CU-Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology said people who may feel forced to exercise could include high school, college and professional athletes, members of the military or those who have been prescribed an exercise regimen by their doctors.

“If exercise is forced, will it still produce mental health benefits?” Greenwood asked. “It’s obvious that forced exercise will still produce peripheral physiological benefits. But will it produce benefits to anxiety and depression?”

To look for an answer to the matter Greenwood and his colleagues, as well as Monika Fleshner, a professor in the same department, designed a lab experiment using rats. Throughout a six-week period, a few rats stayed inactive, whereas some exercised by running on a wheel.

The experiment went this way; the rats that exercised were divided into two groups that ran a roughly equal amount of time while one group ran whenever it chose to, at the same time as the other group ran on mechanized wheels that rotated according to a predetermined schedule. The motorized wheels turned on at speeds and for periods of time that mimicked the average pattern of exercise chosen by the rats that voluntarily exercised, for the study.

Then six weeks after, the rats were exposed to a laboratory stressor prior to testing their anxiety levels the next day. The anxiety was measured by quantifying the length the rats froze when they were put in an environment they had been conditioned to fear. It is likely what is happening to a phenomenon similar to a deer in the headlights. Then the stress can be measured by, the longer the freezing time, the greater the residual anxiety from being stressed the previous day. For assessment, some rats underwent to a test for anxiety without being stressed the day before.

“Regardless of whether the rats chose to run or were forced to run they were protected against stress and anxiety,” said Greenwood, lead author of the study appearing in the European Journal of Neuroscience in February. The sedentary rats froze for longer periods of time than any of the active rats.

“The implications are that humans who perceive exercise as being forced – perhaps including those who feel like they have to exercise for health reasons – are maybe still going to get the benefits in terms of reducing anxiety and depression,” he said.

Strengthening The Marriage

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:36:53 -0400

Strengthening The Marriage :

http://springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/05/02/strengthening-the-marriage/

Couples with thriving young children and struggling marriages aren’t a new sight in therapy office. It can be a real challenge to shift from a married couple to married couple with kids. Arguments and little fights can be healthy sometimes and couple without kids had the plenty of time to attend to their relationship while now that kid’s are present, their needs alone can leave both parents drained and exhausted. This could mean that at the end of the day couples will feel tired and no time for each other.

There are many reasons why divorce happen but one possible reason is parents tend to get overboard attending to their children while neglecting their responsibilities as a husband or wife.

Most of the parents can only have their alone time after the kids are in bed. And what make things worse after your long day is both of you has barely the energy to even ask how each others day went because you cannot even pull up the covers. When you reach this point maybe you are in the edge of your relationship.

It will help so much if couples will find time for each other; it is always a good idea to have a day for the parents alone. Weekend mornings can be a good time whereas stress of the work week recedes and before the daily demands of the children start stacking up, couples sometimes find their best opportunity to shift into a mode where they can focus on each other.

It is also important to talk to your kids and explain that parents need time for each other too. To make them busy, think of possible and safe way to make use of their time. As soon as a couple acquires some uninterrupted time together, now other challenges appear to happen such as how are they going to use this alone time well.

Try not to do the following:

Never compare, do not weigh against whose life is harder

Do not complain and tell your partner the s/he doesn’t give you what you need

Expect your partner to instantly feel like being sexual

Give up on intimacy and plan the children’s week together

Some good ideas consist of:

Take turns listening to each other.

The listener tries to empathize and understand without trying to solve the problem

Massage each other while listening to nice music

Take turns appreciating yourself while your partner listens and smiles

Take a walk together in a beautiful place

Take a bath or hot tub together

Whatever you do, focus on being together

Pay attention to each other

And consciously try to say things that build a sense of connection.

Treating to your relationship in this technique is one of the most excellent things you can do for your children. And for sure you will enjoy it yourself!

Six Things Women Firsts Notice About Men

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:42:33 -0400

Six Things Women Firsts Notice About Men:

http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/04/22/six-things-women-firsts-notice-about-men/

According to Dr Gordon Patzer, author ofLooks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined, and one of the world’s leading authorities on physical attractiveness, a lot of what women notice in the first few minutes is appearance-based. “A substantial portion of the six features of a man are apparent, in terms of height, weight and overall physical attractiveness,” he says. And when appearances don’t make the cut, the door slams shut on further interactions. Here’s a list of things to keep that door open.

Physical stature: Don’t be a hypocrite and admit it, this matter, after all everything starts with attraction then the getting-to-know part after. And again yep, you knew this already, we all do: size really do matters. Height and weight are right on top of the list of things women notice. “Too much or too little of either immediately classifies the man as unattractive to women, and closes the door before less physically obviously features (such as confidence) can be determined,” says Dr Patzer. Take heart though, the acceptable range is influenced by the woman’s own height and weight.

Appearances and attractiveness: All right, we all agree in some point that beauty is skin deep, but it’s going to get women to discover what lies beneath. As mentioned earlier, everything starts with attraction then the getting-to-know part after. Agreed, attractiveness does include what you were born with, thanks to your mom and dad huh, but your genes alone can’t scuttle your chances. It is very important that you know what to do with your hair, clothes, grooming and basic hygiene, basically how you present and carry yourself. Women surely are not going to work hard to learn more about you if you can’t even make the effort.

Smile: put a smile in those lips, smile can make anyone look good! After the women are finished evaluating your overall build, women will look at your smile. “The ability to smile, particularly within the first few minutes of meeting, sends a welcoming, non-hostile signal to women,” says Dr Patzer. There is one proviso though and you must take a good consideration of this one because this can make or break it, the smile must show off sensibly good-looking teeth or at least presentable and hygienic teeth. So what are you still waiting for, go and fix an appointment with the dentist!

Humor: One more rationale to show off those pearly white teeth! Women want men who have the ability to laugh and even better have the talent to make the woman laugh. That instantaneously gets you plus points!

Confidence: but never be overdo it. Women find confident men attractive. According to Dr Sameer Malhotra, head of psychiatry and psychotherapy department at Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, within the first few minutes of meeting, women will not only suss out your level of confidence, they will also interpret the vibes you give out and how you think. “Women notice how clear or decisive you are and whether you approach things positively.” Just remember, like stated above, do not overdo it; cockiness and arrogance are not the same as confidence!

Conversation: Men have given the impression to womankind the characteristic of being strong and silent. Consequently women aren’t expecting you to have mad talking skills. But instead, all you’ve got to do hold her attention. “We know (scientifically) that the more or longer that a woman gets to know a man, the more physically attractive he becomes in her mind,” says Dr Patzer. Forget the one-liners because women are looking for someone to keep up the conversation.

But the most advice is just be yourself, it is always great to be loved for who you are.

Falling In Love Addiction - Springhill Group Counselling

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:07:17 -0400

Falling In Love Addiction - Springhill Group Counselling:

http://springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/04/19/falling-in-love-addiction/

Who among us isn’t snowed under that feeling when someone is fluttering us and at the same time confusing us, that total fascination with the object of our desire, that faith that this time we’ve found the one we are looking for all along. Maybe the most wonderful feeling in the world is the feeling of in love. We are overwhelmed and drown in confusion. Then it will occur to us with the gradual realization that yet again, it was just another fairy tale without a happy ending.

The first 50%, which is sexual attraction, is the natures desire to procreate so we have that overwhelming urge to get it together, meaning the biological drive to have sex. Consequently, great sex which is very much pleasurable and rewarding in more ways is one reason why seeks opportunity to be together. This is according to some skeptics and the other 50% is projection.

The second half is a bit harder to explain, first, what is projection? Projection is what we wanted our partner will be. It is the dream or our fantasy of an ideal partner, how they treat or act towards us. Someone only has to be apparent for a little sense of some of the distinctiveness but at the same time we should be able to feel those sexual tingles of attraction and the rest we will fill in our imaginations. And because we are overwhelmed with happiness we will disregard any erudition that will resist to the possible sight.

If you are addicted in falling in love maybe you need to slow down and re-think, process the things first. What you know now may not be enough; it will take time to know someone. Meaning, if we stop, slow down, and pay attention we might pick some things along the way that may tell us that he/she may or may not be the ideal person. But remember there is no such thing as perfect; all of us have faults and flaws but as well as good qualities. We must keep in mind that we have to remain full guarded of whatever may come and we owe it to our self and to the other person to get to know each other in the delightful process of falling in love.

Our past experiences can affect our projections of what is ideal for us that may prompt us to have particular qualities onto sequence of potential partners. We are often depending our present wants to those we didn’t achieve from a failed relationship that lead to us finding a potential partner that will make up we think we deserved and never got enough of. All of us basically want the same thing, attention, acceptance, approval, to name a few. If time comes someone pays attention to us, we immediately feel that this maybe it.

For a deep relationship to yourself first and have the sense of self-awareness, this is the best “cure” for the serial falling-in-love-followed-by-disappointment trap. Every one of us has a unique biography and by exploring this in detail we can often find out what particular projections we are likely to be making and why.

Aside from this will permit us to begin agreeing to conditions of premature relationship that might be driving us, this is also owning every positive projection one is putting on to the other partner. Who wouldn’t want a faithful partner, all of us values fidelity. If you are intact with the belief that they are endlessly fascinated in everything that interests you, that means you value and seek companionship and shared ideals. If you want to start to seek these characteristics openly, you must own the said desires. Therefore, you may start learning how to evaluate all the information that you have about the way they behave and most importantly to have the self-esteem to avoid people who don’t genuinely offer these.

And if you are finding these ways hard to face alone you can always seek help trough a counselor. They are always willing to work with you without being judged. They will help you identify your own personal drivers, to help you build your self-esteem and identify and take back your projections. Counseling is a relationship itself. Find a counselor that is focus on developing healthy ways to live the life that brings out the best in you. Counseling leads to self-love and will make us prepared to find real love with others.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Reduces Depression

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:47:00 -0400

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Reduces Depression:

A study in the Lancet says cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms of depression in people who fail to respond to drug treatment.

CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that was instituted to help nearly half of the 234 patients who underwent it added with normal care from their GP.

People with depression, almost sums up to two-thirds, do not respond to anti-depressants.

Charity Mind said patients should have access to a range of treatments.

CBT is a type of talking psychotherapy to facilitate people with depression to amend the way they think to improve correct how they feel and change their behaviour.

The study followed 469 patients with treatment-resistant depression picked from GP practices in Bristol, Exeter and Glasgow over 12 months.

Two groups were studied which one group of patients continued with their usual care from their GP that would mean anti-depressant medication included while the other group was also treated with CBT

Researchers got to know that 46% of those who had received CBT showed at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms after six months.

This is all with the comparison to 22% undergoing the same reduction in the other group.

The study established CBT was useful in dropping symptoms and improving patients’ worth of life. The developments had been preserved for 12 months, it added.

Other options

Dr Nicola Wiles, from the Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research at the University of Bristol, said: “While the addition of CBT was effective for patients who had not responded to anti-depressants, not everyone who received CBT got better. These patients had severe and chronic depression so it is unlikely that one treatment would be effective for everyone.”

“We need to invest in other research to find alternative treatments for patients whose symptoms have not responded to treatment with anti-depressants.”

The patients who did benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy spent one hour a week with a clinical psychologist learning skills to help change the way they think.

Chris Williams, professor of psychosocial psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, and part of the research team, said: “The research used a CBT intervention alongside treatment with anti-depressants. It confirms how these approaches – the psychological and physical – can complement each other.

“It was also encouraging because we found the approach worked to good effect across a wide range of people of different ages and living in a variety of settings.”

Paul Farmer, chief executive at the mental health charity Mind, said there was no “one size fits all” treatment for people with mental health problems.

“We welcome this research because it recognises that patients should have the right to a wide range of treatment options based on individual needs,” he said.

“Initiatives such as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has helped to ensure that more treatment options are available for conditions such as depression, however, we know that there still is a huge difference between what treatment people want and what they actually get.”

In whatever though, it will be better to stay protected and on guard of your own self, there are many fraud prevention and scam watch about the topic that you can check to help you.

Symptoms of Compulsive Eating

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:17:00 -0400

Symptoms of Compulsive Eating:

BED or “binge-eating disorder” or sometimes being referred to as “food addiction”, Compulsive Eating or Overeating is distinguished by an obsessive-compulsive relationship to food. By the ingestion and longing for foods that are, in themselves, harmful to the individual, this state is not only apparent by irregular food intake in terms of amount. Even beyond the point of being comfortably full, people enduring from this disorder engage in repeated period of unrestrained eating, or binge eating, at some stage which they may experience that they are already out of control, frequently overriding food in rage, The binge is more often than not is subsequent by feelings of guilt, shame, and depression. Sequentially to feel better about themselves, binge eaters will give or submit in to cravings with another binge, which they wish will anesthetized out the bad feelings; thus, the cycle repeats itself. Always remember though and keep in mind the scam prevention and the scam watch, some may pretend to be a legitimate counselors and may take advantage of you.

Compare to the eating disorders of anorexia nervosa or bulimia, compulsive eating is less well-known and that it is different from the latter. While binge eaters on the other hand do not attempt to compensate for their bingeing with vomiting, fasting, or laxative use. People with this disorder also do battle with grazing, at some stage in which they return to eat small amounts of food all through the day.

Here are some signs and symptoms of Compulsive Eating

Is obsessed with thoughts about food
“Comfort eats” in order to relieve stress or worry
Eats much more rapidly than normal (so that they can eat more)
Eats alone or hides food in order to eat in secret due to shame and embarrassment
Eats very little in public, but maintains a high body weight
Feels guilty due to overeating, and/or eats more than intended to when began
Feels sluggish or lethargic from overeating
Binge eats or eats uncontrollably even when not physically hungry
Eats everything on the plate, even when full
Goes on a food binge after dieting or trying to cut back
Eats until feeling sick
Feels anxious while eating, which results in more eating
Does not like to feel hunger
Gets depressed or has mood swings
May be aware that eating patterns are abnormal
Is preoccupied with body weight
Over time, has felt the need to eat more and more to get the desired emotional state
Has experienced withdrawal when cutting down/out certain foods (not including caffeine)
Experiences rapid weight gain or seemingly sudden obesity
Has a history of weight fluctuations
Has difficulty moving around due to weight gain
Sometimes consumes certain foods so often or in such large quantities that spends time dealing with negative emotions instead of working, spending time with family or friends, or engaging in other important or enjoyed activities
Has withdrawn from activities because of embarrassment about weight
Has a history of many unsuccessful diets
Has low self-esteem and (therefore) feels the need to eat greater and greater amounts
Sees food as something to be avoided, harmful

How to Have an Effective Counseling

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:33:18 -0400

How to Have an Effective Counseling:

http://springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/20/how-to-have-an-effective-counseling/

You don’t need a good counselor alone to make counseling effective, it’s a two way street. The person receiving the counseling needs to be cooperative because a good counselor couldn’t do his job if the person receiving the counseling wouldn’t participate. And it needs commitment to make complex changes in behavior or thinking patterns.

From the beginning you need to know your goal and what is it that you wanted to achieve with your counselor, it should be clearly defined before you even start. Plan a realistic time frame for reaching your goals with your counselor. And also it is important that you both agree on how you will measure your progress.

Though it is the counselors’ responsibility to gain your trust and build rapport, you have to do your part as well and be honest. It is very important that you and your counselor to establish a good relationship so that it will allow you to be completely honest about your thoughts and feelings. It is vital to built rapport because the situation often entails an elusive “chemistry” between both of you in which you feel comfortable with your counselor’s personality, approach and style. This is very important that if after few sessions you don’t feel this chemistry, look for another counselor with whom you feel more comfortable because that’s the first step of the effective results.

And if you are wondering hoe to tell if you have found an effective counselor here are some signs to spot.

An effective counselor can help identify the obstacles in your way but you are still in charge for making changes in your life. If you have power over these obstacles, a counselor can put forward behavioral changes to help you conquer them. Your counselor can coach you on coping mechanisms that will encourage your well being in trying circumstances if these obstructions entail factors out of your control.

An effective counselor can recognize off-putting thinking patterns that may be causing feelings of sadness, depression or anxiety. A counselor can help you develop a more optimistic attitude by encouraging you to build upon personal strengths and suggesting skills that can overcome self-inflicted feelings of hopelessness.

An effective counselor can help out in making positive changes in your relationships with others, helping you distinguish behaviors that possibly the causative to a troublesome relationship. Your counselor can educate you successful ways of communicating, clearing the way for honest exchanges with people in your life who might be the grounds of your emotional pain.

You can verify if your work with your counselor is effective if you start to get hold of your insights about your own thoughts and behaviors that may have eluded you before. In time, you should be able to be aware of patterns in the way you act, trace their sources and spot uncertain blocks to your happiness that you may have without knowing shaped. The outcome is personal growth that allows you to be in charge of your life and take pleasure in positive, life-affirming interactions with others.

Christian counselor’s attempt to cure gay man was 'malpractice' - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:02:07 -0400

http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/20/christian-counselors-attempt-to-cure-gay-man-was-malpractice/

A gay man was tried to be converted to become heterosexual, his Christian psychotherapist found guilty of professional misconduct.

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Christian counselor’s attempt to cure gay man was 'malpractice' - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:10:01 -0400

Christian counselor’s attempt to cure gay man was 'malpractice' - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling:

http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/20/christian-counselors-attempt-to-cure-gay-man-was-malpractice/

A gay man was tried to be converted to become heterosexual, his Christian psychotherapist found guilty of professional misconduct.

Lesley Pilkington, a Christian psychotherapist, was condemned by the professional body for counselors subsequent to an undercover journalist posing as a patient furtively recorded her during a therapy session at her home.

British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ruled that she had breached the profession’s ethical code despite finding that Mrs. Pilkington’s client, Patrick Strudwick, “deliberately misled her”.

She now affronts being chastised off the association’s widely renowned professional register and is considering an appeal.

Mrs Pilkington, 60, practises “reparative therapy”, a contentious method which assumes that homosexual orientation can be “therapeutically changed” in clients who are motivated.

Back in 2009, Mr Strudwick met Mrs Pilkington at a largely Christian conference on therapy of homosexuality. He told her he said he was unhappy with his gay lifestyle and that he wanted treatment for his same-sex attraction.

Mr. Strudwick recorded a session on a tape machine strapped to his stomach while he appeared to Mrs. Pilkington’s private practice, based at her home in Chorleywood, Herts, and

He collected evidences which he later used in a protest against Mrs. Pilkington to the BACP. A decision by the BACP panel was made but both sides were advised to treat the issue as confidential while Mrs. Pilkington considered whether to use her right to an appeal.

Mr. Strudwick wrote about the BACP’s decision for the Guardian newspaper while Mrs. Pilkington then issued her own press statement through the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting her case. The BACP has refused to comment, stating that the process has not yet concluded.

The disciplinary panel described Mrs. Pilkington as “reckless”, “disrespectful”, “dogmatic” and “unprofessional” and ruled that her treatment of him constituted “professional malpractice”.

The ruling affirmed that her accreditation to the organization will be suspended at the same time she will be ordered to complete training. If she be unsuccessful to comply she will be forced off the register.

Mr. Strudwick said in his newspaper article, “I am an out, happily gay man. I was undercover, investigating therapists who practice this so-called conversion therapy (also known as reparative therapy) – who try to ‘pray away the gay’.

“I asked her to make me straight. Her attempts to do so flout the advice of every major mental-health body in Britain.”

Mr. Strudwick alleged that Mrs. Pilkington asked him whether he had been the victim of sexual abuse as a child and then prayed for God to “bring to the surface” his past suffering, and suggested he take up rugby.

The Christian Legal Centre released further excerpts from the ruling, which stated that “Mr. Strudwick was not open about his true intention” and “in significant ways deliberately misled” Mrs. Pilkington into believing that he was comfortable and accepting of her approach”.

This had the effect of “lulling Mrs. Pilkington into a false sense of security” in which he could “manipulate” the sessions “to meet his own agenda”.

Mrs. Pilkington said: “I am deeply concerned that the privileged and confidential relationship between a counselor and her patient will be undermined by a journalist seeking a sensationalist story without any substance.

“Reparative therapy is a valid therapy that many people want and it should not be damaged by irresponsible reporting. The hearing is still subject to an appeal.”

Universal Preschool, What High-Quality Education Really Means

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:20:56 -0400

Universal Preschool, What High-Quality Education Really Means:

http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/08/universal-preschool-what-high-quality-education-really-means/

“Make high-quality preschool available to every child in America”, says President Obama in his recent State of the Union Address. This proposal he referred to research that has demonstrated long term positive effects of attending high-quality preschool programs. The early childhood community got excited in President Obama’s support. And it seems like a very good proposal, expanding a high-quality preschool opportunities, what could go wrong? But the question is “What does “high-quality” mean in practice?”

According to educators and economists “high-quality” preschools means teachers are adequately paid, facilities are adequate, and the ratio of staff to children is low. Those mentioned are really significant elements of quality and if not achieved there could be serious problems. In reality, high-quality is otherwise as preschool educators are often very poorly paid, poorly educated themselves, and lack decent facilities. The low salaries results to a bad quality and poor performance of the teachers. So this proposal for ensuring universal access to high-quality preschools is aiming high for current preschoolers are already struggling with quality and funding issues.

Aside from money matters, there is a question raised about how preschool programs should be structured. Compare to no preschool there are a lot of advantages of high-quality preschool. And although there are a lot of researches supporting the latter, there is fewer research showing different benefits of different preschool approaches.

By means of standard preschool teaching methods the Preschool Curriculum Effectiveness Research initiative weigh against a number of promising approaches to each other and to groups. You can see the results summarized review on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. And consequently only a small number of programs illustrated child outcomes superior to those achieved by other programs, by the end of kindergarten. The best outcomes for children are planned programs that mainly focused on language and emergent literacy, giving children many opportunities to use language to work together, solve challenges, and develop positive relationships with each other.

Nowadays, early childhood education has also evolved in many ways such as technology has so far played a modest role in it, but this may change as multimedia devices become more commonly used. Children cannot be technologically late, they must understand how the world works, and technology offers opportunities for teachers to enhance language development by engaging children with brief content that helps them to do so. They can watch videos on DVD and educational television, things like that helps.

But this doesn’t mean that technology has to replace the early childhood learning although it may help adding the capacity for teachers to show anything they want to their children and to link to the home in ways that have not been possible in the past, and this may result in enhanced learning at this critical age, they still have to manipulate and learn from real objects. They have to learn to work with each other, sing songs, develop coordination and creativity, and practice appropriate behaviors.

In general, the proposal was a terrific idea, expanding preschool access would really help children’s education but sure thing is it will take a lot of money and time to get in order. This will be a great help more especially to unfortunate children and if they want to go further in this project then they should motivate immediately.

Universal Preschool: Use Innovation and Evidence to Make it Effective

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 03:44:23 -0500

Universal Preschool: Use Innovation and Evidence to Make it Effective:

In his recent State of the Union Address, President Obama proposed to “make high-quality preschool available to every child in America.” He referred to research that has demonstrated long term positive effects of attending high-quality preschool programs. President Obama’s support has excited the early childhood community. Who could be opposed to expanding high-quality preschool opportunities? Yet this begs the question: What does “high-quality” mean in practice?

“High-quality” preschools are often defined by educators and economists alike as ones in which teachers are adequately paid, facilities are adequate, and the ratio of staff to children is low. These are indeed important elements of quality and they are serious problems, as preschool educators are often very poorly paid, poorly educated themselves, and lack decent facilities. The low salaries received by preschool teachers leads to a high turnover rate, which also reduces quality. So ensuring universal access to high-quality preschools when many current preschoolers are already struggling with quality and funding issues will be a heavy lift.

Leaving aside money issues, however, there is an important question about how preschool programs should be structured. There is lots of research showing the benefits of high-quality preschool in comparison to no preschool (as in the famous Perry Preschool and Abecedarianprograms). However, there is far less research showing different benefits of different preschool approaches.

The Preschool Curriculum Effectiveness Research initiative compared a number of promising approaches to each other and to groups using standard preschool teaching methods. The results are summarized in a review on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. By the end of kindergarten, only a few of the programs showed child outcomes superior to those achieved by other programs. Structured programs that had a very strong focus on language and emergent literacy, giving children many opportunities to use language to work together, solve challenges, and develop positive relationships with each other, had the best outcomes for children.

Technology has so far played a modest role in early childhood education, but this may change as multimedia devices (such as interactive whiteboards) become more commonly used. Technology offers opportunities for teachers to enhance language development by engaging children with brief content that helps them understand how the world works. For example, children learning about health can see videos on how the body works and can be provided with video models of how to stay safe and healthy. Children can make choices and manipulate pictures and videos representing objects and processes. Further, classroom technology allows for linkages with the home, as parents increasingly have computers, DVDs, and other media available. Children can be shown exciting content in school and then take home DVDs or link electronically to specific materials that closely align with the content they learned that day. These electronic activities can be designed to be done with parents and children together, and can then inform parents about what children are learning in school. Also, in high-poverty homes children often have few if any books. Existing DVD or internet technologies can provide children with access to appropriate literature, which can be read to them by narrators or by their parents or older siblings.

Of course, technology will not replace the majority of early childhood teaching. Young children still need to manipulate real objects and learn to work with each other, sing songs, develop coordination and creativity, and practice appropriate behaviors. However, technology may add the capacity for teachers to show anything they want to their children and to link to the home in ways that have not been possible in the past, and this may result in enhanced learning at this critical age.

Expanding preschool access is a terrific idea, but it will take a lot of money and a long time to put into place. The possibility that it may take place should motivate immediate investments in innovation and evaluation, to develop new ways of ensuring that early education leads to enhanced preparation for success, especially for disadvantaged children.

Preschool quality should not just be seen as a question of per-pupil cost. Preschool educators and children need innovative, proven models that use modern teaching strategies and technologies that are appropriate to the developmental needs of four-year-olds. Innovation and research is needed to show the way as we head toward universal preschool.

Recalling Good Times May Reduce Depression - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:45:38 -0500

Recalling Good Times May Reduce Depression - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling:

There is a new strategy that was discovered to improve mood for the ”depress”, it is easier and costs nothing. This is easy just the recollection of positive day-to-day experiences. This can work for those who are not suffering from depression as well. I’m sure this will change anyone’s mood.

Researchers suggest that recalling actual, detailed memories that are positive or self-affirming can help to improve the mood of people with a history of depression.

Sad to say, for people who suffer from depression, this kind of vivid memory for everyday events seems crippled by the victims.

In the new study, Tim Dalgleish, Ph.D., of the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and colleagues hypothesized that a well-known method used to enhance memory — known as the “method-of-loci” strategy — might help depressed patients to recall positive memories with greater ease.

The method-of-loci strategy consists of connecting vivid memories with physical objects or locations. An example of which are buildings you see on your commute to work every day. To bring to mindall the memories, you just have to imagine going through your commute.

An article published in Clinical Psychological Science the study is further discussed. In the study, depressed patients were asked to come up with 15 positive memories.

The method-of-loci strategy was used by one group to create associations with their memories and the other group was asked to use a simple “rehearsal” strategy, grouping memories based on their similarities.

The participants were asked to recollect as many of their 15 positive memories as they could after working on the techniques.

Both groups were able to recall nearly all of the 15 memories. Although the method were equally effective after the initial memory test conducted in the lab, the strategies were not equally effective in the long run.

A surprise call was made by the researchers after a week when they are already at their own homes. They then asked them to recall the 15 memories once again and the group who used the method-of-loci passed with flying colors while those who used the rehearsal technique did not do the same as the other group.

This made a conclusion and the researchers believe these findings suggest that using the method-of-loci technique to associate vivid, positive memories with physical objects or locations may make it easier for depressed individuals to recall those positive memories.

Recalling and focusing on positive memories, rather than negative projections, may help individuals elevate their mood in the long run. And also for all of us this may help brighten each day so you may have a great day ahead!

Infant Research & Neuroscience at Work in Psychotherapy

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:33:06 -0500

Infant Research & Neuroscience at Work in Psychotherapy:

For decades, psychotherapy has been considered “the talking cure”: two people in conversation,

with a shared goal of relieving the suffering of the patient. From the early days of Freud to the

current popularity of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the spoken word has been the central focus in

the therapeutic alliance. In recent years, however, the advent of functional MRIs and other

brain-scanning technologies has led to new discoveries about the workings of the brain that may

afford clinicians innovative and exciting new ways of working with clients, beyond simply “talking.

Everyday Life’s a Struggle for 25 Years and Younger

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:15:57 -0500

Everyday Life’s a Struggle for 25 Years and Younger:

People under the age of 25 are ‘struggling to cope’ with everyday life, says the Prince’s Trust. Their recent survey claims that one in ten young people are now struggling to deal with day-today life.

Over 2000 16-25 year olds were surveyed by prince’s trust across UK. They have discovered that those who are jobless and out of school are the most discontented. Due to this they are the most unhappy, these are the people who are likely to have grown up without anyone to talk to and converse their issues with.

“I used to apply for jobs but after getting knocked back, it hit my confidence. I’d wake up and just not know what to do with the 24 hours in the day”, says Leon White, 24. He is currently living with his family but his father passed away ten years ago and he left school without receiving any qualifications. He dreams of a career in music, but has only recently been able to secure a full-time job in a hotel, after taking a hospitality training course.

The survey indicated that almost three out of ten people that were questioned said they felt their career prospects had been permanently damaged by the recession.

Government said they are not satisfied with the rate of employment while the level of unemployment is at its lowest since 2009.

A spokesman from the Department for Work and Pensions said: “Youth unemployment has fallen recently, and excluding full-time students, there are now 626,000 unemployed 16-24 year olds – the lowest figure since early 2009. But we are not complacent about the scale of the challenge we still face.

“Through our Youth Contract we’re offering nearly 500,000 work experience placements, wage incentives and apprenticeships over the next three years to help young people gain the skills and experience needed to get a job.”

Counseling for Trauma Victims

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:21:45 -0500

Counseling for Trauma Victims:

Trauma is defined as “severe emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely upsetting experience” (The Cambridge Dictionary). But trauma is also an extremely subjective experience because what may be traumatic for one person may barely affect another.

Generally speaking, when someone experience excessive stress that overwhelms ones emotional or physical ability to cope, this is being referred to as trauma. Emotional trauma can be experienced by anyone even without the physical trauma but the two sometimes are often go hand-in-hand. An example of this is when the wounds from physical trauma like the loss of a limb or a gunshot wound, while an obvious shock to the body, will eventually heal. While all the emotional wounds and repercussions of the actual traumatic event are left to the person.

Symptoms of trauma

Symptoms of trauma can vary from person to person. A traumatized individual may suffer from one or several of the following symptoms. (list not complete)

upsetting memories such as images, thoughts or flashbacks
nightmares
insomnia
re-experience the trauma mentally and physically
emotional detatchment (known as dissociation)
individuals may turn to alcohol and/or drugs
stress/anxiety disorders
panic attacks
anger
despair
depression
loss of self-esteem.

Causes of trauma

abuse
violence
threat of abuse or violence
witnessing of abuse or violence
catastrophic events (war, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes etc)
witnessing/being involved in an attack
accidents (e.g a car crash or explosion’
divorce
job loss
death
mugging
armed robbery
rape
car accident
illness
failing an exam
losing valuable things

Trauma like any other illness can be cured. When someone suffered from a traumatic experience, he/she can undergo trauma counseling. Trauma counseling is appropriate for people who experienced traumatic incident. In fact any event, whether shallow or horrible events can traumatized a person, anything that a person regard as negative and that changes his view or himself or the world.

Trauma counseling will help you in identifying and coming to terms with the feelings and emotions you may feel during and after a traumatic experience. And because people handle trauma in various ways these emotions will also vary from individual to individual, but the most commonly experienced emotions are anger and fear.

Here are some ways the trauma counselor may use to achieve your healing process

Listening to what you are saying (and not saying)
Supporting your coping mechanisms
Exploring with you, and validating, your feelings and emotions
Supporting you to make sense of the incident
Preventing the use of suppression as a defense
Integrating the event meaningfully into your life

To get your life back on track and to move you from being a victim to being a victor, you must admit to yourself first that you need help. This doesn’t mean that you are going crazy or that you are weak. Everyone deserves healing.

How to Know if Depress During and After Pregnancy

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:56:24 -0500

How to Know if Depress During and After Pregnancy :

Depression is actually the most common complication during and after pregnancy although exact number of women that suffers from this is unknown. Perinatal depression, it is the depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery.

You may not recognize depression because some normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms and are happening at the same time that is exactly why it was not treated. Tiredness, problems sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, and changes in body weight may occur during pregnancy and after pregnancy and these are also symptoms of depression. For a lot of women, joyfully anticipated pregnancy and motherhood bring depression as an unexpected accompaniment. Depression is not only risky for mothers but for their children as well. During pregnancy, depression may result in poor prenatal care, premature delivery, low birth weight, and, just possibly, depression in the child. Depression after childbirth aka postpartum depression can lead to child neglect, family breakdown, and suicide. A depressed mother may fail to bond emotionally with her newborn, raising the child’s risk of later cognitive delays and emotional and behavior problems.

If the depression is detected soon enough, help is available for mother and child.

Signs of depression during pregnancy:

History of depression or substance abuse

Family history of mental illness

Little support from family and friends

Anxiety about the fetus

Problems with previous pregnancy or birth

Marital or financial problems

Young age (of mother)

Signs of postpartum depression or after giving birth:

Feeling restless or irritable

Feeling sad, hopeless, and overwhelmed

Crying a lot

Having no energy or motivation

Eating too little or too much

Sleeping too little or too much

Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions

Feeling worthless and guilty

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

Withdrawal from friends and family

Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (the heart beating fast and feeling like it is skipping beats), or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing)

After pregnancy, signs of depression may also include being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself and not having any interest in the baby.

Postpartum psychosis (seye-KOH-suhss) is rare and is need to be treated by the doctor. It occurs in about 1 to 4 out of every 1,000 births. It usually begins in the first 2 weeks after childbirth. Women who have bipolar disorder or another mental health problem called schizoaffective (SKIT-soh-uh-FEK-tiv) disorder have a higher risk for postpartum psychosis. Symptoms include:

Seeing things that aren’t there

Feeling confused

Having rapid mood swings

Trying to hurt yourself or your baby

The problem with some women is that they do not tell anyone about their condition because they embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They may think that they will be judge as unfit parents, bad and not together mom but this can happen to any mothers. Remember that your child is also at risk. Seek for help.

7 Ways to Be a Stress-Free Workaholic

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:56:38 -0500

7 Ways to Be a Stress-Free Workaholic:

Saying it’s a crazy, complex world out there is putting it mildly. The rate of technological change is staggering.

The constant bombardment of information and communication has us all on overload. And we’re constantly

slugging it out in a brutally competitive global market.

If it seems as if you’re locked in a downward spiral of trying to do more with less, it isn’t you. It’s for real. That

surprising array of macro factors creates stress on all of our businesses and on all of us. We try to manage it

as best we can, but at some point, things break. Systems break. People break. That’s the nature of stress.

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re well aware of the constant pressure to keep your burn rate down and stretch

capital investments as far as they’ll go. And should the stars align and you gain customer traction, then you’ve

got the not-insignificant challenges of high growth and scalability to deal with.

Either way, there are times when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. And that means stress, big

time. Having lived through several high-growth companies, a few successful and failed start-ups, and 20 years of

executive management, I have plenty of great strategies for managing stress.

Work your tail off when you have to, not when you don’t. Business happens in spurts. Always. Whether you’re

developing a product or growing a business, those long hours don’t go on forever. It’s OK to kill yourself for a few

weeks or months, as long as you chill out for a while when it’s over. If you do it constantly, you’re asking for trouble.

Learn to give up—sort of. When you’re overstressed, overworked, and the ideas just won’t come, try giving up.

Seriously, just call it quits, go home, go for a run, whatever. Once you relax, that’s when inspiration flows—usually

when you’re lying in bed half asleep or in the shower.

Strategize and plan. Here’s a method for managing stress you’re not likely to see anywhere else. When things seem

overwhelming, they’re often the result of day-to-day inertia. To thwart the evils of the status quo, take a step back

and gain some perspective. Get some time away from distractions—just you or with your team—and brainstorm,

strategize, and plan. Have a nice dinner out. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Mix business with pleasure. Whenever you’re going through high-stress times, take your team out for dinner. Have a

few drinks. Take breaks and goof around. Yes, it probably takes longer to get things done that way, but I would argue

that higher morale increases effectiveness.

Don’t leave things for the last minute. Yes, I know you can’t always control this, but if you can—and you can more often

than you think—give yourself a buffer. You’d be amazed how much more relaxed you’ll be if you plan to finish your pitch

a day early or get to the airport a couple of hours before the flight.

Don’t take it out on others. Leaders and managers, listen up. Maybe you can function at a high level, but if you’re

simultaneously demotivating your team, then what’s the point? And if you take it out on family and friends, you’re just

going to end up lonely and depressed. If you can’t handle the stress, find an outlet that doesn’t include taking it out on

other living things.

Lots of outlets work—pick one or two. Caffeine can boost your mood and performance during the day. Wine can bring you

down and help you sleep at night. But you can’t keep that sort of cycle up for too long. Learn to exercise, meditate, get

outdoors, build things, play Scrabble, talk to someone—whatever works, do it.

Look, if you want to be a workaholic, that’s fine, be my guest. But at least learn how to be a high-functioning one,

meaning don’t just run yourself and your team into the ground. If you’re practical, you’ll be effective.

Above all, learn to recognize the signs of burnout in yourself and your people. Downward spirals are hard to break out of.

And, if you’re a leader, you’ll take everyone, and maybe the entire company, down with you.

Springhill Group Counselling: Counseling and Psychotherapy for Married Couples

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:37:14 -0500

Springhill Group Counselling: Counseling and Psychotherapy for Married Couples:

Let us understand first the difference of counseling and psychotherapy. These two are terms that are often used interchangeably. Even if that is the case, they are very similar yet there are subtle differences as well. Counselor meaning advisor— a relationship of the psychotherapist to the patient. It involves two people working together to solve a specific problem. Psychotherapy on the other hand speaks to a general term that involves longer term of treatment which focuses more on gaining insight in to chronic physical and emotional problems. It focuses onto the patient’s thought processes and way of being in the world rather than specific problem.

Many couples struggle with their relationship that leads to divorce and broken families. Just like any case, marital problems may also be solved by counseling. Marriage counseling a.k.a couples therapy; is a type of psychotherapy. Couples of all types may undergo therapy; it resolves conflicts and improves relationships. Marriage counselor will always be rational towards things, she will not recommend you to separate your ways or force you to fix your relationship but rather help you to realize the problem and will advice you options to solve them which can make thoughtful decisions about rebuilding your relationship or go your separate ways.

Not everyone can be a therapist just because they are good in giving advises. Marriage counselors are provided by licensed therapists who are graduates or postgraduate degrees.

Married couples undergo therapy to strengthen their relationships. Marriage counseling is not just for married couples; in fact it is advisable to have a pre-marriage counseling before getting married. This aims to achieve a deeper understanding of each other and iron out differences before their married life starts.

It is always better to have a joint therapy; in this case you will both learn ways to solidify your relationship together. It is a start of communicating openly, solving problems together and discussing differences rationally. You will analyze the bad and the good parts of the relationship as you both pinpoint the problems and better understand the basis of your conflicts. Whatever it is that you are struggling with you can openly discuss it to your therapist. E.g:

· Communication problem

· Sexual difficulties

· Conflicts about child rearing or blended families

· Substance abuse

· Financial problems

· Anger

· Infidelity

· Divorce

Although marriage counseling might also help in domestic abuse it is more advisable to seek help from crisis centers, police or local shelter.

How to find a good therapist is a good question. Here are tips on whom to go and seek advice from:

· It is necessary to know the therapist’s education and experience, her educational and training background. More especially if she is licensed. You must provide a postgraduate therapist that will conduct your counseling.

· Where is her office and what is is her office hours. Will she be available in case of emergency?

· Treatment plan. Scheduling. You must work this out, joint counseling is always better. More especially therapist must always be approachable.

· Fees and insurance. Talk about the terms, it is always better to have it sorted out from the start for no further conflicts.

Talking about your problems might not be easy, sharing your like to a stranger will be hard but consider the things that a counselor can do for your marriage to work. It will always be worth it.